Device for waxing skis



Feb. 4, 1969 H. REY

DEVICE FOR WAXING SKIS Filed Jan. 11. 1966 v *7 III: II 2 o Q A m m N v United States Patent 3,425,394 DEVICE FOR WAXING SKIS Henri Rey, Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland Filed Jan. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 519,883 U.S. Cl. 118-66 4 Claims Int. Cl. Bc 1/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a ski waxing device imbedded in the ground, a conveyor adapted to convey a skier from an entrance to an exit, cleaning devices for cleaning the base of the skis progressively as they are conveyed along, a warmer to warm the base of the ski, a distribution cylinder having an absorbent porous surface partially submerged in a source of liquified wax and serving to both convey the skier along and to apply a layer of wax on the warm base of the skis, and a blower positioned after this cylinder for cooling the layer of wax on the skis as the skier reaches the exit of the device.

This invention relates to a device for waxing skis.

Devices for waxing skis are known, but these require that the skier take off his skis during the waxing.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device permitting the skis to be waxed without having to remove them from the skiers feet.

The invention in its broadest aspect comprises conveying means adapted to convey a skier from an entrance to exit, cleaning means for cleaning the base of the skis progressively as they are conveyed along, warming means to warm the base of the skis, applicator means connected to a source of liquified wax and adapted to apply a layer of liquified wax on the warmed base of the skis, and cooling means to cool the layer of wax on the skis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises at least one first rotatable drum on which the skier places himself with his skis transversely across the drum in a manner to be taken in charge by the device and carried along by the drum and at least one brush adapted to clean the base of the skis progressively as they are carried along, means adapted to direct a stream of warm air on the base of the skis to preheat the base, at least one tank disposed after these means and adapted to contain some liquified wax, at least one cylinder disposed in the tank, parallel to the first drum, and adapted to place a layer of liquified wax on the heated base of the skis, means adapted to direct a stream of cold air on the layer of wax placed on the skis, and at least one second rotatable drum, parallel to the first drum and adapted to carry the waxed skis and the skier out of the device.

The single figure of the drawing illustrates in longitudinal section and very schematically one embodiment of the present invention.

The device is designed to be embedded in the ground, for example at the exit from a ski-lift. It can be of the prepayment type or not.

It comprises a tub 1 in the form of a box, between the lateral walls of which are mounted four drums 2 to 5 disposed at the same height and moving at the same speed, in the counter-clockwise direction in the drawings, by a motor (not shown).

The drums Z and 5 are very near, respectively, to the right side and to the left side of the box 1. The drum 2 is adapted to take in charge a skier desiring to wax his skis (and coming from A in the drawing) while the drum 5 serves to carry the skier out of the device once the waxing is finished, in the direction B.

The distance separating the drums 2 and 3 is practically ice the same as that separating the drum 4 and 5, and is equal to half the separation between drums 3 and 4.

Between the drums 2 and 3 is disposed a first spatula 6, of relatively supple material, for example of vulcanised rubber or of plastic material, positioned to scrape the base of the skis to take away any snow which might be adhering there. A rotatable brush 7 is mounted after the spatula 6, and is driven in a direction contrary to the direction of rotation of drum 2 with a relatively large speed. This brush has rather rigid horse-hair bristles with the addition of light metal wires, and its periphery extends above the level of the displacement of the skis so that it rests against the skis with a pressure sufiicient to free the base from the remains of old wax adhering there without, however, injuring the surface of the base.

Between the brush 7 and the drum 3 is disposed a second spatula 8, to completely remove the waste which could still adhere to the base of the skis after its brushing.

The skis thus cleaned are heated by hot air directed on their base by a nozzle 9 during their journey between the brush 7 and a tank 10 containing some wax Which a heater 11 maintains constantly melted. The heater can be supplied with electricity or with gas, for example. As seen in the drawing, the nozzle 9 is positioned to direct hot air against the drum 3, spatula 8 and brush 7.

In the tank 10 submerges the lower part of distribution cylinder 12, of which the surface is coated with an absorbent material and which is driven in rotation in the same direction as the drums 2 to 5 with an angular speed such that the peripheral speed is equal to the speed at which the skier is carried along by drums 2 and 3.

As shown, the cylinder 12 extends slightly above the drums 2 to 5 so as to be compressed by the skis progressively during their passage. The cylinder 12 also serves as a drum for carrying along the skier.

The maximum thickness of wax which can fix itself on the drum 12 can be regulated by a strip 12a in the form of a scraper.

Means not shown permit the intensity of the heat produced by the heater 11 to be varied, notably as a function of the ambient temperature and of the quality of wax to be put on the skis.

The drum 12 is disposed substantially at the middistance between the drums 3 and 4 so that the speed of displacement of the skier carried along by the drums and 3 remains practically the same when the skier 1S taken in charge by the drum 4.

Progressively as the skis are waxed, their base is cooled by a stream of cold air directed by a nozzle 13 positioned between the tank 10 and the drum 5. As seen in the drawing, the nozzle 13 directs cold air against the drum 4 and into the space between the drum 4 and the tank 10. The flow of this mass of air as Well as its temperature are functions of the time of displacement of the skis between the cylinder 12 and the drum 5, and can be different according to the thickness of the bed of wax as well as according to the temperature of that bed which in turn is a function of that of the bath in which the cylinder 12 submerges.

The device described presents the advantage of permitting very rapid Waxing of skis on the skier, while assuring that a uniform layer of wax is placed on the skis.

Moreover, because of the gradual preheating of the skis, this layer adheres particularly well so that it will last for a relatively long time.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to what has been described or illustrated: in particular the device could present a larger number of cleaning brushes, of driving rollers or of distribution cylinders submerging in the same tank or in successive tanks. Also means could be provided to render the device mobile; in

3 4 particular, for example, the device could be mounted on rotatable drum for directing a stream of cold air a toboggan to permit the device to be moved easily. against the bases of said skis for progessively cooling lNhztdis clainfied is: k In th th f t tstaid bases asftheyidare waxed; saiddnozzle girgcting evlce or waxlng s is W 1e ey are on 6: cc e sream o co air against sar secon riven of a skier, the device comprising a box-shaped tub having: r rotatable drum and between said second driven rotat- (a) an entrance and an exit for the skier; able drum and said applicator cylinder. (b) conveying means adapted to convey the skier from 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said tub is the entrance to the exit and comprising at least one embedded in the ground. first driven rotatable drum disposed near said en- 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first trance and adapted to receive the skier with skis 10 driven rotatable drum is positioned in the stream of hot placed transversely across the drum, and to carry air. the skier along, and at least one second driven rotat- 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning able drum disposed near said exit, parallel to said means is positioned in the stream of hot air. first rotatable drum and adapted to carry the skier out f h device; 15 References Cited (0) cleaning means adapted to clean the base of the UNITED STATES PATENTS skis progressively as the skis are conveyed along, said means being positioned closer to said first drum than 3/1906 Eckstem 118 69 1,361,068 12/1920 Karro 15-36 tosadsecmd drum 2333285 11/1943 w 11 't 118 72 (d) pre-heating means comprising a nozzle for direct- 20 e Z 2,889,806 6/1959 Conant 118-66 X mg a hot air stream against the bases of said skis 3,045,639 7/1962 Kurlander et al. 11872 X after said bases have been cleaned, 3 068 119 12/1962 Gotsch 118 66 X 2 :f Wax and heatmg means 3,136,659 6/1964 Walker et a1. 118-42 X f ea b t t d n 2,263,131 11/1941 Hoza 118-72 a app Y er me 5 3,066,046 11/1962 Walton 118-264 XR said source of wax and extendlng slightly above said drums so as to be pressed progressively by said skis FOREIGN REFERENCES during their passage for applying a layer of liquified 734 137 5 19 Canada wax on the warm bases of the skis, and scraper means mounted on said source for adjusting the 30 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

maximum amount of wax which can adhere to said R. SMITH Asst-Slant 0 applicator cylinder; g) and cooling means including a nozzle disposed U5 ()1,

between said applicator cylinder and said second 118-69, 72 

